Man jailed for stealing almost £20,000 off 90-year-old woman
A man who stole almost £20,000 from a vulnerable 90-year-old woman has been jailed for 18 months.
Andrew Deakin, 50, of Biset Avenue, Kidderminster, pleaded guilty to theft and fraud by false representation at an earlier hearing.
Deakin received the sentence at Worcester Crown Court after it was heard about how he had taken regular cash withdrawals from his elderly victim's bank account at a time between June 2020 and October 2022, during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Deakin made unauthorised withdrawals of £100, and £400 a time, equalling a total loss of £19,823.10.
Police investigating the case identified the locations of withdrawals where Deakin was caught on CCTV.
As well as the 18-month sentence, Deakin was ordered to pay a £187 victim surcharge. A proceeds of crime hearing is set to follow.
PC Dan Windsor, of North Worcestershire Police, investigated the case. He said: "We are pleased the court has recognised the gravity of this appalling crime on a vulnerable elderly lady following our lengthy investigation.
"Deakin showed himself to be the worst of us, preying on the very type of person the rest were trying to protect during the worrying times of the pandemic.
"He knowingly took advantage of a vulnerable victim who had quite innocently placed her trust in him at a time when she would have already been feeling afraid of the world outside."
